I went to the movie "Swing Vote" tonight. In it, Kevin Costner plays a buffoonish New Mexico ne'er-do-well who, as fate would have it, gets to cast the deciding vote to determine a U.S. presidential election.
The film makes some valid points. The most telling is the extent to which the candidates and major parties will pander to get their points across. This certainly isn't news to people who are following the current campaign and watching some of the trivial and tiresomely irrational verbiage flying about. It's just that when, as in "Swing Vote," it's all directed to one person instead of the nation as a whole it puts it into pretty stark relief. It speaks to a "win at any cost" mentality that immeasurably demeans the democratic process.
The other salient point is a sharp barb directed at the American people themselves for not demanding better. Costner's character stands for the many who do not vote, do not care, and/or do not stay informed enough to do the process justice or make intelligent choices. Egged on by his 11-year old daughter, the man eventually does take the responsibilities of citizenship seriously. He rather sums up his former attitude by declaring, "To the extent that America has an enemy, I guess it's me."
The film, comes through with some portrayals of dysfunction in families and individuals that can make the viewer reflect on some of our deeper ills, but leavens these with frequent humor. "Swing Vote" is not a great film but it is an appropriate one for an election year. If you have a free evening and like to muse about society and how politics are conducted by all means give it a look.
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